Operations

Trade predicted to take £280m in bank card spend over Easter

12-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

As Brits head out for long lunches and trips this Easter weekend, pubs across the UK are predicted to benefit, with the hospitality sector set to rake in more than £280m in debit/credit card spend, figures suggest.

Reasons behind Manchester’s oldest pubs' names revealed in study

12-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A study into the names and folk stories of Manchester’s oldest pubs, such as the Peveril Of The Peak, the Britons Protection and Lass O’Gowrie, has led to a University of Salford graduate winning an essay-writing award.

People visiting pubs increases 12.5% on past year

12-Apr-2017 By Finn Scott-Delany

People visiting the pub rose 12.5% year on year to March 2017, the latest data from Barclaycard has shown.

7 day beer line cleaning rule ‘not strictly true’

12-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Cleaning beer lines every seven days is not necessarily the tell of good hygiene, on-trade cellar sanitisation firm Avani has claimed after a report outed the ‘dirtiest’ beer in Britain.

BII announces Licensee of the Year 2017 semi-finalists

11-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has announced the 16 semi-finalists for this year’s Licensee of the Year competition.

Doom Bar to become official beer for British & Irish Lions tour

11-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Doom Bar has become an official sponsor for the British & Irish Lions 2017 rugby union tour to New Zealand.

Calling the best pubs in Britain: entries for GBPAs 2017 are now open

10-Apr-2017 By Ed Bedington

Bring some sanity to the country. Put your pub forward and help us in our hunt for the best pubs in the country as the popular Great British Pub Awards (GBPA) opens its doors for 2O17 entries.

Cask Marque’s first bar staff training plan

10-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Real ale champions at Cask Marque have revealed plans to produce the pub trade’s first comprehensive training scheme to help the sector serve cask ale at its best.

Grand National takes place this weekend

07-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

The eyes of the horse racing world will be on Aintree for one of the world's most famous races, but that's not the only sport to be showing in the pub this weekend.

The Grand National: Legal advice on sweepstakes in pubs

07-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

As pubs prepare to welcome Grand National punters, on-trade legal specialists Poppleston Allen have listed everything you need to know about sweepstakes and gambling in a pub.

My Pub: The Shack 68, Twickenham

06-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

After retiring from rugby union, former England and Harlequins back Ugo Monye decided to turn his hand to running a pub a stone’s throw from Twickenham Stadium. He and business partner Adam Saword discuss swapping rucks for the ruckus of running a pub.

Former London strippers' pub takes CAMRA design award

05-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A former strippers' pub, the Scottish Stores, has taken pole position at this year’s Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) best pub designs across Britain.

How pubgoers influence Sky Sports Premier League TV pundits

04-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Sky Sports presenters have revealed their end of season Premier League predictions, unmissable matches, and why the pub is one of “the best” places to watch football.

Pub success: Going multiple

03-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

You’ve squeezed everything you can out of your site and are now ready to move on up and run a second site. What challenges await you on the journey to becoming a mighty multiple operator?

MPs invited to join Community Pubs Month celebrations

03-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

All MPs have been invited to a community pub in north London as CAMRA’s Community Pubs Month kicks off.

‘Lickable’ menus, hippo petting zoos and job-stealing dogs: the best April Fools gags

03-Apr-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

From some questionable menu innovation by Flaming Grill to horseplay from Robinson’s Brewery, it’s clear the pub trade was feeling silly this weekend. Here’s our round up of the best April Fools gags from across the sector.

Ei Publican Partnerships launches digital tools for current and aspiring publicans

30-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Ei Publican Partnerships has revealed two new digital tools designed to help publicans run “successful, efficient pub businesses” while attracting new entrepreneurs into the trade.

Brexit: employers concerned as future of EU workers remains unclear

29-Mar-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Article 50 will be triggered today and the official countdown to Britain leaving the EU will begin in earnest, but the detail that is worrying most who work in the pub trade is the crisis in waiting around the residency and working rights of foreign employees...

Licensee bans mobile phones for ‘stifling conversation’

27-Mar-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The licensee of a Bristol pub has banned mobile phones in a bid to let customers enjoy a pint and a chat.

England, Ireland and Wales all in football action

24-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

International football, a much-anticipated boxing rematch and Premiership rugby are all a part of the best sport to show in the pub this weekend.

Westminster attack: Fuller’s robust plan ‘sees pub safely evacuated’

23-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A Fuller’s pub in Westminster implemented its “robust two-way communication plan” after the terrorist attack outside the Houses of Parliament yesterday afternoon (23 March).

‘Ask for Angela’ safety scheme rolls out in London pubs

22-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign, which gives people a discreet way to ask pub staff for help if they feel threatened, will begin in London today (22 March).

New pound coin, it’s all change

21-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A number of changes to the UK’s currency are coming into effect in the next few weeks.

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Molson Coors: ‘a responsibility to support pubs’

21-Mar-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Beer distributor and brewer Molson Coors has promised to uphold its support to help save the 'Great' British pub after launching a new campaign last week.

HRH Prince of Wales tours Wadworth brewery

20-Mar-2017 By MA Editorial

Wadworth brewery in Devizes welcomed HRH The Prince of Wales on Friday (17 March) to celebrate the Prince’s initiative, Pub is the Hub.

Single online solution for pub operators ‘key to building loyalty and trade’

20-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Pub customers want an online “one stop shop” to keep them informed about pubs in their area and encourage them to visit, according to a new survey.

RBS 6 Nations reaches its climax

17-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

An epic Saturday afternoon of rugby brings the RBS 6 Nations to its conclusion this weekend with many questions still to be answered.

Publican Awards Winners: Best Pub Brand / Concept sponsered by Asahi - The Botanist

16-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

In the space of five years the Botanist has gone from being the latest spark of invention from the Living Ventures stable to an established brand with national coverage, and some extremely punchy growth plans.

Publican Awards Winners: Best New Pub / Bar sponsored by Heineken - The Club House, New World Trading Company

16-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Looking like it’s dropped straight from the east coast of the United States of America, and rising up from the shops, flats and restaurants that make up Liverpool One, the New World Trading Company’s (NWTC) Club House is a venue the company is rightly...

Publican Awards Winners: Responsible Retailer of the Year sponsored by Drinkaware - Novus Leisure

16-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Novus Leisure has 40 sites across the UK, which are largely London-based. These encompass a number of brands including Tiger Tiger as well as a number of individual concept sites.

Publican Awards Winners: Business Leader of the Year sponsored by Poppleston Allen - Peter Borg-Neal

16-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

An intense focus on quality shines through in the career of Peter Borg-Neal, the founder and chief executive of Oakman Inns. 

Publican Awards Winners: Outstanding Industry Contribution sponsored by The Morning Advertiser - Stephen Goodyear

16-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The pub trade is going to miss Stephen Goodyear – in the unlikely event that following his retirement last summer he is actually going to go away.

Publican Awards Winners: Best Premium Food Offer, sponsored by McCain - Bel & The Dragon

16-Mar-2017 By The MA

You won’t find a burger on the menu at any of Bel & The Dragon’s food-led pubs. Or bangers and mash for that matter. 

Publican Awards Winners: Best Food Offer, sponsored by CGA Strategy - Cheshire Cat

16-Mar-2017 By The MA

Pioneering food couple Tim Bird and Mary McLaughlin have used their vast experience in the foodservice sector to build their growing fleet of seven food-led pubs.

Publican Awards Winners: Best Late Night Operator, sponsored by Jagermeister - Stonegate

16-Mar-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Stonegate operates 72 businesses under its late night ‘venues’ division, encompassing brands such as PopWorld, Missoula, Reflex and Flares as well as many unbranded sites, such as the massively popular Salsa in Soho and a huge range of gay clubs and bars.

Publican Awards Winners: Best Value Food Offer, sponsored by the Bar & Pub Show - Sonnet 43 Brewpubs

16-Mar-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Tavistock Hospitality operates five Sonnet 43 sites across the north-east, selling extremely well-priced dishes cooked with fresh, locally-sourced produce.

Publican Awards Winners: Best Tenanted/Leased Pub Company (201+ sites), sponsored by Kuehne & Nagel - Greene King Pub Partners

15-Mar-2017 By The MA

There’s a real sense of drive within the Greene King Pub Partners team, and judges felt there was real evidence of a shift in tone when it came to operator relationships, with the company seeking to work more truly as a partnership with tenants.

Publican Awards Winners: Best Tenanted/Leased Pub Company (up to 200 sites), sponsored by Sky - Everards

15-Mar-2017 By The MA

Everards is a traditional multi-generational family brewer with a large regional estate of more than 170 pubs, centred mainly in the Midlands, but with an estate stretching to a 70-mile radius around the city of Leicester, where it is based.

Publican Awards Winners: Best Community Pub Operator, sponsored by Britvic - Oakman Inns & Restaurants

15-Mar-2017 By The MA

This award is the third victory in this category for the excellent Oakman Inns & Restaurants which continues to push industry boundaries with its community engagement ideas and positioning.

Publican Awards Winners: Best Brewing Pub Company, sponsored by MCA - North Bar/North Brewing Co

15-Mar-2017 By The MA

North Brewing – a 15-brewer’s barrel (15-bbl) brewing operation in an industrial estate on the fringe of Leeds – has evolved out of the operator, North Bar, which has seven sites across the greater Leeds area. The two directors of the pubco and brewery,...

Publican Awards Winners: Best Pub Employer (1-499 employees), sponsored by Sky - The Coaching Inn Group

15-Mar-2017 By The MA

The Coaching Inn Group operates 13 landmark pubs with rooms in towns across England and Wales, from Conwy, in North Wales, to Richmond, in North Yorkshire, to Hungerford, in Berkshire, employing nearly 500 people.

Publican Award Winners: Best Pub Employer (500+ employees), sponsored by AB InBev - New World Trading Company

15-Mar-2017 By The MA

It has been another fast-paced 12 months for the dynamic New World Trading Company (NWTC), which saw the former Living Ventures-backed group acquired by Graphite Capital, open five new bars and record an excellent year-on-year profit increase of 63%. 

Publican Awards 2017: as it happened...

15-Mar-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

The Publican Awards 2017 is over for another year, and what a night it was. There were laughs, shocks, and shots aplenty at Battersea Evolution last night – let’s take a recap…

Publican Award Winners: Best Managed Pub Company (2-50 sites), sponsored by Molson Coors - New World Trading Company

15-Mar-2017 By The MA

It’s been a big year for the New World Trading Company (NWTC), which not only broke away from parent company Living Ventures in 2016, but opened five new sites, launching a new concept in the process.

Publican Award Winners: Best Drinks Offer, sponsored by Coca-Cola European Partners - New World Trading Company

15-Mar-2017 By The MA

A phenomenal and varied drinks offer that deep-dives into every category, along with increased sales and perfectly manicured sites, gave the New World Trading Company (NWTC) the upper hand in the Best Drinks Offer Award.

Publican Awards Winners: Best Accommodation Operator, sponsored by Hospitality Gem - The Coaching Inn Group

15-Mar-2017 By The MA

Successfully rebranded as the Coaching Inn Group in 2015, this fast-developing and well-funded pub company is acquiring, refurbishing and breathing new life into faded and underperforming historic market-town coaching inns. 

BBPA and ALMR call on pubs to get involved in live music census

15-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has urged pubs to get involved in a first-of-its-kind live-music census to measure its cultural and economic value.

The MA editor talks about 'amazing companies raising the bar yet again' at Publican Awards 2017

15-Mar-2017 By Ed Bedington

Well, the dust has settled and the winners revealed at the hospitality industry’s biggest awards event – an award-winning event in its own right, no less.

NWTC sweeps board at Publican Awards

15-Mar-2017 By Ed Bedington

The New World Trading Company (NWTC) swept the board across six categories to dominate the prestigious Publican Awards.

Molson Coors launches ‘save the pub’ campaign

13-Mar-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Drinks giant Molson Coors has launched a direct attack on the UK’s “one-size-fits-all” global coffee shop culture by revealing its save the great British pub campaign.